TED Talks Daily: Episode Summary

Title: Are We Cooked? How Social Media Shapes Your Language
Speaker: Adam Aleksic
Release Date: May 13, 2025

Introduction: The Evolution of Language in the Digital Age

In this enlightening episode of TED Talks Daily, hosted by Elise Hu, linguist Adam Aleksic delves into the profound influence of social media on contemporary language. Aleksic explores how platforms like TikTok are not only changing the way we communicate but also shaping the very words we use.

The Rise of Euphemisms on Social Media

Aleksic begins by examining the emergence of new euphemisms, such as "unalive," which serves as a substitute for the word "kill." He highlights the prevalence of this term among middle school students, citing his survey of over a thousand middle school teachers:

“It'll mostly be in informal situations, but could show up in contexts like a student's essay on Hamlet's contemplation of unaliving himself, or a classroom discussion on the unaliving that happens in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”—Adam Aleksic [03:17]

Aleksic draws parallels to historical euphemisms, noting that while the act of softening language around death isn't new, the motivations differ significantly in the digital age. Unlike "decease," which originated from linguistic evolution without external pressures, "unalive" was created to circumvent TikTok's mysterious algorithms that suppress posts violating community guidelines.

Algorithm-Driven Language Change

A central theme of Aleksic's talk is the role of social media algorithms in accelerating language change. He explains how these algorithms prioritize content that drives engagement, thereby influencing the creation and dissemination of new words and phrases.

“Language has always been a little bit like a virus. Words are transmitted from one host to another, reproducing and changing as they infect different people along social networks.” —Adam Aleksic [05:45]

Aleksic emphasizes that the viral nature of platforms like TikTok enables words to spread from obscurity to widespread usage within months, a process previously taking years or decades.

Popular Memes and Slang: The Case of the Rizzler Song

Aleksic uses the "Rizzler song" as a case study to illustrate how social media memes propagate slang:

“This is full of current middle school slang words like riz, gyat, and skibidi, and was instrumental in popularizing those words to a broader audience.”—Adam Aleksic [07:10]

He explains that the song's catchy and humorous nature led to its algorithmic promotion, resulting in a surge of videos using related slang. This example underscores how repetition and trendiness are rewarded by algorithms, thereby facilitating rapid language evolution.

Suffixes and Aesthetic Labels: Cottagecore and Beyond

The discussion shifts to the proliferation of suffixes like "-core," which describe specific aesthetics such as "cottagecore" or "goblincore." Aleksic argues that these labels are not organic cultural movements but rather products of algorithmic incentives:

“Creators respond by making more cottagecore content that propagates the word and then more people interact with it, which makes the word trendier.”—Adam Aleksic [11:30]

He points out that these artificially generated niches lead to hyper-specific commercialized content, fostering identity-based consumption patterns that benefit social media platforms economically.

Appropriation and Dilution of Marginalized Slang

Aleksic addresses the troubling trend of appropriating slang from marginalized communities, particularly African American English (AAE) and queer lexicons. He explains how words like "yacht," originally stemming from AAE expressions, become mainstreamed and diluted through viral spread:

“When a word like yacht goes from an African American English pronunciation of God damn to being used as a noun for butt in memes like the Rizzler song, it's ultimately exaggerated in a way that makes a farce of its pronunciation and meaning.”—Adam Aleksic [14:20]

This appropriation not only strips the words of their cultural significance but also perpetuates stereotypes and erodes the original contexts from which they emerged.

The Impact on Identity and Commercialization

The talk delves into how social media algorithms foster the creation of niche identities, which are then exploited for commercial gain. Aleksic illustrates this with the example of "cottagecore," where the algorithm's promotion leads to increased consumerism under the guise of aesthetic preference.

“TikTok's business platform openly claims that subcultures are the new demographics and then gives businesses ideas for how to profit off the cottagecore aesthetic.”—Adam Aleksic [13:50]

He critiques how these hyper-compartmentalized labels serve the dual purpose of reinforcing user engagement and driving targeted advertising, ultimately commodifying personal identities.

Potential Harms and Concerns

Aleksic raises concerns about the darker implications of algorithm-driven language change. He highlights how harmful rhetoric from extremist groups can infiltrate mainstream slang, inadvertently normalizing toxic ideologies:

“If a kid says something like I'm so burrito pilled, they're not saying that because they're black pilled, but because the underlying idea is making fun of how incels talk.”—Adam Aleksic [16:40]

He warns that while the surface meanings may seem innocuous or humorous, the underlying connections to extremist groups can have detrimental effects on societal discourse.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In concluding his talk, Aleksic offers a balanced perspective. While acknowledging the concerning trends, he reassures that language evolution has always been influenced by social dynamics:

“We should be aware when the way we're talking may have been conditioned by the algorithm. We should be aware when the words we're using may have been engineered to sell us things.”—Adam Aleksic [16:50]

He argues that despite the rapid and algorithm-driven changes, language remains resilient and adaptable. Aleksic emphasizes the importance of understanding etymology and maintaining awareness of the forces shaping our communication.

“I think each of these words is a beautiful, colorful addition to the English language that reflects the diverse cultural moment we're all in.”—Adam Aleksic [16:55]

He concludes with a call to awareness, urging listeners to remain cognizant of how their language is influenced and to critically engage with the evolving lexicon.

Closing Remarks

Elise Hu wraps up the episode by acknowledging Adam Aleksic's insightful exploration of the intersection between social media and language. She encourages listeners to reflect on their own communication practices in the digital age.

Notable Quotes:

• “It'll mostly be in informal situations, but could show up in contexts like a student's essay on Hamlet's contemplation of unaliving himself." — Adam Aleksic [03:25]

• “Language has always been a little bit like a virus." — Adam Aleksic [05:50]

• “Creators respond by making more cottagecore content that propagates the word and then more people interact with it." — Adam Aleksic [11:35]

• “When a kid says something like I'm so burrito pilled, they're not saying that because they're black pilled." — Adam Aleksic [16:45]

Conclusion

Adam Aleksic's compelling analysis sheds light on the intricate ways social media algorithms are reshaping language. By tracing the origins and implications of contemporary slang, he underscores the need for awareness in an era where language is both a tool for personal expression and a commodity driven by digital platforms.